Mainers’ discrimination stories sought by student

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Requests from schoolchildren throughout the United States for the assistance of Maine residents with special class assignments often come to us in the spring, but this one came in late fall, and it is a most unusual request.

Ferial Pearson and Trisha Rogers teach a ninth-grade special education English class at Omaha South High School in Nebraska.

“We are teaching a unit on discrimination, having read some relevant pieces of literature,” the teachers wrote.

“Our students would like to do an experiment. They would like personal stories from people who have experienced any kind of discrimination.

“This is not limited to racism; the students have understood that there are many different kinds of ‘isms’ out there.”

Each student chose a state, and the students are trying to “cover all 50 states,” the teachers wrote, adding they “believe that the students will learn a great deal from these stories, and we are thinking about putting the letters we receive into a book of some kind.”

Student Stephanie Dennis has chosen the state of Maine.

“We believe there is still a lot of discrimination in this country,” Dennis wrote.

“Our class has been reading about the dream of Martin Luther King Jr., that everyone will be treated equally. We are doing an experiment to see if this dream comes true.”

Dennis “would like the people of Maine to send us their stories, if they have been discriminated against.”

Your experiences with discrimination can be mailed to Pearson and Rogers at OSHS, 4519 S. 24th St., Omaha, NE 68107.

If you have questions, their telephone number is (402) 557-3600, and their email addresses are ferial.pearson@ops.org and trisha.rogers@ops.org.

Do you still have some names on your holiday shopping list that have no gift ideas beside them? Perhaps you have some stockings to fill.

In either case, Bangor Lions Club President Wes King has a suggestion for you.

He reminds you that club members are selling their 2007 Gourmet Club Books, which entitle the holder to a discount at a variety of area restaurants.

The books are $20 each, and are available through any club member or by calling 944-0808.

The sale of the Gourmet Books is the club’s largest fund-raiser of the year.

Proceeds benefit the Lions’ primary mission of supporting sight-related charities, especially purchasing eyeglasses for community members of all ages who are unable to afford them.

Proceeds also benefit a variety of nonprofit organizations ranging from The Salvation Army to the Bangor Y, East Side Little League and the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.

Chief Warrant Office Two Randall S. Kluj, who grew up in Orneville, attended schools in Dover-Foxcroft and graduated from Norwich University in Vermont, is now serving as an Apache helicopter pilot with the U.S. Army 1st Air Calvary in Iraq.

His dad, Randall Kluj, commander of American Legion Post No. 41 in Milo, told me his son “has offered to fly American flags on missions, in his aircraft, and will return them with a certificate stating the date and time it was flown” in his helicopter.

To make arrangements to receive one of these flags, call Randy Kluj at 943-5509 or 943-2542.

Joshua Torrance reminds you that Woodlawn Museum, in all its holiday glory, is open for tours at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 16, Sunday, Dec. 17, and Saturday, Dec 23, on Route 172 in Ellsworth.

Admission is $7.50 for adults and $3 for children ages 5 to 16. Group and school tours can be arranged by appointment.

Torrance also reports that you can purchase unique holiday gifts at the Woodlawn Museum Store, which is open from 1 to 4 p.m., daily, now through Saturday, Dec. 23, or by special appointment.

At the store you will find Victorian games and ornaments, needlepoint pillows, jewelry, special Woodlawn chocolate coins and many other items that are suitable for stuffing stockings.

And, don’t forget, Museum memberships make excellent gifts while helping support this historic estate.

College students who are residents of Veazie, Orono or Old Town and currently enrolled in a horticultural program or related field of study can apply for a scholarship being offered by the Veazie Garden Club.

Applications, including a resume and brief letter stating the applicant’s goal and why he or she would like to receive this scholarship, should be sent by Tuesday, Jan. 30, to Barbara Higgins, 1408 State St., Veazie 04401.

For more information, call 942-9648.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.